If this was on the table it Danny would have already done it. Hibbert isn't overpaid at all and if we're going to use that criticism the same can be said of Jeff Green.
Moving Green's expiring (assuming he opts-out), Young, Zeller and a late first (plus 2nds) is an absolute coup even for a slumping center. I'd throw that same package at BKN for Lopez, at Denver for McGee and at MIL for Sanders. Any takers on that package for a legit center is a good gamble.
For the record I don't even like Roy Hibbert. I just think he's worth more than some late picks and Jeff Green.
Jeff Green earns a fair contract for doing everything above average. Hibberts single skill is rim protection, and he is set to earn 15 million.
The common objection to acquiring Hibbert is his lack of rebounding for someone his size. It's true, he doesn't grab as many rebounds as you'd expect from someone his size and length, especially when you see how good his timing and positioning is as a rim protector.
So I'll try and explain why his rebounding numbers aren't as high as you'd expect and hopefully make you appreciate the strategy behind the Pacers as the 8th best rebounding team whilst being the best defensive team in the NBA.
So basically, the way teams guarded Hibbert has changed because of his ability to protect the basket and cause so many problems to those attempting to go into the paint. We've seen the nightmare he can be to Wade and Lebron and how close he came to single handedly taking the Pacers to the finals with his rim protection in the playoffs.
This adjustment by other teams is what I, and many other observers believe has affected his rebounding numbers more than anything. To try and explain this isn't the easiest. But if I may, and if you care:
1) Hibbert has never been a natural rebounder. He's not an athlete by any means. Because of this, Frank Vogel has developed Hibbert to become the big man that looks for an opponent to box out, rather than go for the ball directly as athletic rebounders often do. David West has become similar in his old age- he's still got beastly strength, but his athleticism has been poor after the knee injury.
This is part of the Pacers strategy in part, which attempts to completely deny the big men on the opposing team from rebounding, with excellent boxing out and basket denial ability- similarly to Perkins and Garnett. The Pacers take it to another level though, and rather than box out the man first and then go for the ball, Hibbert's goal is to basically deny the opponent getting the ball, and get back into position to protect the basket.
The result is strong rebounding numbers from your guards and wing players, and incredible rim protection percentages from Hibbert.
Why do the Pacers do this? One reason is the benefit of this is quick transition from defense to offense, but it also means that they have a 3 players vs 2 players situations around the basket, and with Roy's rim protection and Lance Stephenson's aggressive moves in and around the basket (like Rondo, Lance's rebounding numbers are great), it's incredibly effective when you have a great boxing out tandem and quick, strong guards.
It's the help from Garnett/Perkins and Hibbert/West respectively that tends to get overlooked. Basically the idea is to make the opposing bigs face a huge amount of contested rebounds on each possession and limit second chance shot opportunities.
In fact you'll find that most of the great front court defenses in the NBA have carried big men that give their opponents complete nightmares on the offensive glass.
Looking at Hibbert's numbers you'll notice that he averaged 9 rebounds per game in 2012. He was also the Miami Heat's worst nightmare. That season Lance averaged 3.3 rebounds.
When teams started drawing Hibbert away from the basket, it increased this boxing out effect even more because although Hibbert wasn't going for rebounds, he was contesting his opponents attempt at a rebound and this became easier to do when your opponent is 10-15 feet away from the basket and you have Hibberts reach and torso length. Lance ( and coach Vogel) then swooped in and went from a 3.3 rebounder to a 5.7 rebounder in one season.
The advantage the 2008-mid 2010 Celtics had was that KG was quick enough to help Perkins from the weakside and get back in position when being taken away from the basket.
The Pacers don't have that exact luxury, but Hibberts recovery ability for second shot attempts shines the most.
I hope this makes sense. Hibbert may not get 12 rebounds a game, but he's preventing 2nd shot attempts by both boxing out and ensuring that any ball that Lance or George or West don't manage to grab isn't being put back up quickly for a high percentage shot.
Something that destroyed the Celtics last year and will destroy us again this year until we get Sullinger and Rondo a true rim protector and rebound contestor.
The full top 10 when it comes to contested rebounding % is the following:
1) Robin Lopez: 51%
2) Enes Kanter: 50%
3) Zaza Pachulia: 47.6%
4) Nikola Pekovic: 47.5%
5) Roy Hibbert: 47.4%
6) Andre Drummond: 45.8%
7) Jared Sullinger: 45.8%
Amir Johnson: 45.5%
9) Greg Monroe: 44.2%
10) Serge Ibaka: 44%
Doesn't take a genius to work out which players are defensive contesters and which players are being contested
It's almost like 5 'go for the ball' type rebounders vs 5 'go for the man' type rebounders. Hibberts basically the 4th most effective 'man' rebounders in the NBA. Sullinger is special because he does both and he's 6th on the list.
Now imagine putting Hibbert next to Jarred Sullinger and how much of a nightmare teams would have scoring against us in the paint, and getting an offensive rebound and second shot attempt. It would be so fun to watch.